Coupled heat and mass transport across an initially stratified thermohaline interface

Abstract The results of an experimental investigation aimed at obtaining an understanding of flux transport and entrainment processes associated with a solar pond type of double-diffusive core are presented. At high stability ratios, most of the heat transported from the lower convective layer is found to diffuse into the core. This stored heat constitutes a major part of the total heat balance across the diffusive core, and a need to account for it is indicated by the present data. Entrainment of the diffusive core at its boundary with the lower mixed convecting layer is found to be largely influenced by a series of plumes originating from the lower mixed convecting layer. A new correlation for the entrainment velocity is proposed that is valid in the Richardson number range 10 3 5 .